The Israeli High Court’s decision to revoke the long-standing exemption from military service granted to Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews is more than just a legal ruling: it marks a turning point in Israel’s history. Over the 76 years since the state was founded, the exemption has been a subject of intense debate and represents a broader struggle over the balance between religious freedom and civic duty.
The court’s decision puts Israel on a path towards a more equitable sharing of the national burden, while sending a clear message that no social class may avoid military service on religious grounds alone.
Military-wise, the impact of this ruling is significant and comes at a critical time. The government recently rescinded the mandatory military service period, restoring a previously reduced two-and-a-half-year period to three years. Reservists, who have shouldered a significant portion of the military burden since the horrific Hamas attacks on October 7, are now told to prepare for 30 to 40 days of military service per year.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
The burden of defense is growing, requiring broader participation, and the IDF faces even greater challenges as the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah continues. Israel needs more ground troops to ensure the safety of its people and the stability of its borders. Adding ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, to the IDF would significantly alleviate these personnel shortages and fill a critical gap in Israel’s defense strategy.
Still, we shouldn’t get too excited about this ruling, remembering that it will be a long time before all Haredi men are donning olive drab military uniforms and taking part in counterterrorism operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
First, the court decided that the ruling could be applied in stages: In a first step, the court instructed the state to add 3,000 of the more than 60,000 Haredi youths currently exempt from the exemption, in addition to the 1,500 who already enlist in the IDF each year.
To encourage this, the court ordered the state to stop funding yeshivas and Haredi educational institutions that did not have enough students.
The decision will be a financial blow to the Haredi community, but it may not be enough to force the community to comply with the new rules. Earlier this week, a group of senior Haredi rabbis, including a prominent nonagenarian rabbi, flew to the United States to raise funds to fill the vacuum created by the government. Some media reports say they have already raised more than $60 million.
Politically, this ruling could lead the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Judaism to quit the government coalition and join the opposition in dissolving the Knesset and forcing new elections, but that doesn’t seem likely. These politicians know that if new elections are held and a government is formed without them, they will be praying for the day they were asked to conscript 3,000 young men a year.
If ultra-Orthodox Jews do not join the coalition government, the new government could decide to conscript all Haredi youth. By staying in power, Haredi parties can influence future legislation and try to weaken court decisions.
More importantly, to really effect change, a top-down approach alone won’t be enough: Haredim have long argued that the state doesn’t want them to serve in the IDF and that the military doesn’t know how to accommodate their unique way of life.
To prove this false, the burden shifts to the Israeli military, which must demonstrate that it can provide Haredim with the religious services they need, such as stricter certification of kosher food, separation of men and women in units and on bases, and allocation of special time for study and prayer beyond what already exists.
But Israelis need to remember that military service is just one element of the changes Israel needs to make.
Yes, the IDF needs more Haredim, especially as Israel continues its war with Hamas and faces the possibility of a broader conflict with Hezbollah. But it also needs more Haredim in the workforce, especially men. Haredim schools don’t teach English, math, or science, and the employment prospects for Haredim men aren’t great right now.
While the Court’s decision represents progress, continued effort and new policies will be necessary to realize the full potential of this historic change. The Court’s landmark decision addresses part of this challenge. More work remains to be done.
Jacob Katz is a senior fellow at JPPI, an international Jewish think tank. Shadow Strike: Inside Israel’s covert operation to take out Syria’s nuclear weapons and Weapons Wizards: How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
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